History

Original Winnipeg Jets (1972-1996)

On December 27, 1971, Winnipeg was granted one of the founding franchises in the World Hockey Association (WHA). By 1979, the vast majority of the WHA's teams had folded, but the Jets were still going strong and they were absorbed into the NHL along with the Quebec Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers and Hartford Whalers as part of the WHA-NHL merger. Team owner Barry Shenkarow sold the team to American businessmen Steven Gluckstern and Richard Burke. Burke and Gluckstern originally planned to move the team to Minnesota (which had lost the North Stars to Dallas in 1993), but eventually reached an agreement with Phoenix businessman Jerry Colangelo that would see the team move to Arizona and become the Phoenix Coyotes. The original Winnipeg Jets played their last game on April 28, 1996.

In their 12 years, the Thrashers qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs only once, during the 2006-07 season, and never won a playoff game. Partially due to their lack of playoff success, the team had difficulty drawing fans to attend their games in their final seasons.[8]

Winnipeg Jets (2011-present)

Although they moved for financial reasons, the Coyotes have never been profitable in Arizona. Mounting losses eventually compelled the franchise to file for bankruptcy after the 2008-09 season. The team was taken over by the league before the next season began. As early as October 2009, there were rumours that True North Sports & Entertainment, the company that owns both Winnipeg's Bell MTS Place (then known as MTS Centre) and the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Manitoba Moose and is chaired by Mark Chipman, had been invited to bid on the city's former franchise.[9] TNSE submitted a series of bids for the Coyotes, which were taken seriously enough that the league drew up a tentative schedule with Winnipeg in place of Phoenix. The NHL shelved the bid after securing a large subsidy from the Coyotes' municipal government. In contrast to aggressive, public bids by Jim Balsillie (who had unsuccessfully attempted to use bankruptcy laws to skirt NHL rules and move the Coyotes to Hamilton), True North's low-key approach was praised by NHL commissionerGary Bettman and other owners, raising their profile when the question of the Thrashers' relocation came up.[10]

Crowds gather at The Forks in Winnipeg on May 31, 2011, for the official announcement that the Atlanta Thrashers would relocate to Winnipeg pending the approval of the NHL's Board of Governors.

On May 20, 2011, the Winnipeg Sun confirmed that an agreement in principle had been reached for True North to purchase the Thrashers,[11] while Winnipeg MayorSam Katz announced that he was confident that the Thrashers' relocation to Winnipeg would soon be officially announced.[12] On May 31, 2011, at a press conference at the MTS Centre, Bettman confirmed that the Atlanta Thrashers had been sold to True North and would relocate to Winnipeg for the 2011-12 season, pending the approval of the sale and relocation by the NHL's Board of Governors,[13] which came at their June 21, 2011, meeting.[14] The reported purchase price was $170 million, with $60 million going to the NHL as a relocation fee.[12] After the announcement, True North made preparations to move the Moose franchise to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.[15]

Season ticket sales began June 1, 2011, with Manitoba Moose season ticket holders having priority. The team sought to sell 13,000 season tickets in an effort to prove its viability.[16] Within the first three and a half hours, the new franchise sold 1,870 packages to Moose season ticket holders.[17] Season tickets opened to the general public on June 4 and sold out in 17 minutes.[18] Once the "Drive to 13,000" was completed, True North started a season ticket waiting list, which was shut down after 8,000 people signed up in two hours.[19] In July 2011, tickets for October 9 home opener against the Montreal Canadiens were listed for an average price of $1,711 on Stubhub, with an average selling price of $713.[20]

True North said the team's name would not be announced until after the successful completion of the season ticket drive at the earliest.[21] The team was not to be named the Thrashers, since True North did not acquire the name in the transaction, and the rights to that name and the Thrashers logo were retained by the ownership group in Atlanta.[22]

There was considerable support in Winnipeg to reuse "Winnipeg Jets", the name of the city's original WHA and NHL franchise, though rumours spread that True North preferred "Manitoba Moose". "Whiteout" and "Falcons" were also considered, but the latter was quickly rejected in deference to Atlanta, which has another professional sports team by that name.[23][24][25] True North kept their selection secret until the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minnesota, on June 24, when Chipman introduced General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff to "make our first pick, on behalf of the Winnipeg Jets."[26]

Before the franchise relocation was officially completed, True North bought out the remaining years of General Manager Rick Dudley's contract on June 4, 2011.[27] Thrashers President Don Waddell, who had been with the franchise since its inception, had earlier announced he would not be moving with the team.[22]Kevin Cheveldayoff, a former GM of the Chicago Wolves and former assistant GM of the Chicago Blackhawks, was hired to replace Dudley four days later.[28] On June 12, 2011, Cheveldayoff had Thrashers Head Coach Craig Ramsay reinterview for his position, then formally dismissed him as head coach eight days later.[29][30]Claude Noel, who had been the head coach of the Manitoba Moose, was named head coach four days later; the other finalist for the job had been Chicago Blackhawks Assistant Coach Mike Haviland.[31]Charlie Huddy, Pascal Vincent and Wade Flaherty, formerly of the Dallas Stars and Blackhawks, were named Noel's assistant coaches.

The team celebrate their first regulation win as the Jets at the MTS Centre on October 17, 2011.

The Jets made their formal regular season debut on October 9, 2011, when a sellout crowd at the MTS Centre saw the visiting Montreal Canadiens defeat the Jets 5-1, with Nik Antropov scoring the first-ever Jets goal.[32] This debut featured a concert by Bachman-Turner Overdrive where Randy Bachman sang "We Just Got Back The Jets" in place of the title refrain of "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet".[33] Other highlights on the first Jets schedule included a home-and-home set with the Phoenix Coyotes, Winnipeg's previous NHL franchise (including a December 1 game in Winnipeg, the Coyotes' first regular season appearance in Winnipeg since vacating the city), as well as a December 17 home game against the Anaheim Ducks, which was former Jet Teemu Selänne's first playing appearance in Winnipeg since being traded from the Jets in February 1996.[34]

The season following their first playoff run was a disappointment, as the Jets finished 25th overall, well out of the playoffs. Management was forced to deal with expiring contracts of two star players, electing to sign Dustin Byfuglien to a five-year extension while trading team captain Andrew Ladd to the Chicago Blackhawks at the NHL trade deadline. Despite finishing with the sixth worst record in the league, the Jets managed to win the second overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft through the draft lottery, which they used to select Finnish prospect Patrik Laine.[41][42] Later that summer, the team appointed Blake Wheeler as their new captain.

In the 2017-18 season, the Jets clinched their second playoff spot since relocating from Atlanta. On March 25, 2018, the Jets beat the Nashville Predators 5-4 in a shootout, and clinched a spot in the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs.[43] On April 11, 2018, the Jets won the first playoff game in the history of the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise when they defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-2.[44] On April 20, 2018, the Jets won their first playoff series in franchise history (and the first series victory in 31 years for the city) with a 5-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild in game 5 of the First Round series, winning the series 4-1.[45] On May 10, 2018, the Jets made further franchise history by advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time, defeating the Nashville Predators 4 games to 3; Nashville were the defending holders of the Campbell Bowl Trophy from the previous season and holders of the President's Trophy for most points in the league during the 2017-18 NHL season. [46] This would also mark the first time that either iteration of the Winnipeg Jets had advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs. Facing the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Finals, the Jets defeated the Golden Knights in the first game of the series 4-2.[47] However, the Jets went on to lose the Western Conference Finals, with the Golden Knights defeating the Jets in the following four games in the series.[48]

Team information

Jerseys

Patch worn during the 2011-12 season, the team's inaugural season in Winnipeg.

No new logo and colours for the Jets accompanied the team's nickname announcement at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft (draft pick Mark Scheifele was presented with a generic black and silver NHL jersey and cap),[50] but True North confirmed that they were in the process of conceiving a logo and colour scheme for the Jets, with True North's chairman, Mark Chipman, stating that the previous Jets' blue and red colours would be incorporated.[51] The Jets unveiled their new logos and colours on July 22, 2011, three days before the team had scheduled to release them (this after team merchandise containers were broken into and a crude picture of a Jets' T-shirt made the rounds on the internet).[52][53]

While blue and silver are the main colour palette, the insignias are a dramatic departure from the previous Jets' logos and pay homage to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), particularly Winnipeg's 17 Wing; the primary logo is patterned after the roundels used by the RCAF and includes a silhouette of a McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet.[53] (Red is a secondary part of the colour scheme due to a maple leaf, the incorporation of which came with the permission of the Toronto Maple Leafs.)[53] Game uniforms for the new Jets were unveiled in September at 17 Wing;[1][54] the team did not introduce a third jersey for its inaugural season due to a limited timetable.[52][53] The team has, thus far, opted not to introduce a third jersey.

The logo was designed by Reebok, the NHL and designer Linda Lynch.[55] Reebok's lead uniform and team identity designers, Dominique Fillion and Linda Lynch, have been associated with the identity design,[56] although True North has not revealed specific design credits.[57]

Mascot

True North announced they had "recalled" their former Moose mascot, Mick E. Moose, from the AHL. Mick E. had spent the past 15 seasons with the Manitoba Moose of the International and American hockey leagues, entertaining fans at Moose games and community events. Slight modifications to the costume were made, including a new vintage leather aviator helmet.[58][59] Since the start of the 2015-16 season, Mick E. Moose has served as mascot for both the Jets and the Manitoba Moose. A fan favourite, he also averages over 100 community appearances per season in Winnipeg and rural Manitoba.[59]

Traditions

National anthem

Beginning in 2011, during the singing of "O Canada", when the line "The True North strong and free" is sung, fans commonly yell "True North."[60] Jennifer Hanson sang the anthems at home games until 1996 and again in 2016 during the Heritage Classic Alumni Game.[] Since 2011, Stacey Nattrass sings the anthems at home games.[61]

Winnipeg Whiteout

The Winnipeg Whiteout is a hockey tradition that dates back to 1987 when fans of the original Jets franchise were asked to wear white clothing to home playoff games, creating a very intimidating effect and atmosphere.[62] It was created as a response to the "C of Red" created by fans of the Calgary Flames, whom the Jets were facing in the first round of the 1987 Stanley Cup playoffs.[63][64] The Jets eliminated the Flames in six games, and fans wore white for every home playoff game thereafter. Fans coined it the "Whiteout."

Team and league honours

Retired numbers

The previous Winnipeg Jets organization retired the jersey numbers of two players, while their successors, the Arizona Coyotes, have retired the numbers of players who played for the former Jets as well. These numbers have not been officially retired by the current franchise.

Upon relocation of the team in 2011, Evander Kane sought (and received) permission from Bobby Hull to wear number 9; the number had been retired by the previous Jets franchise. Kane had worn the number 9 during his time with the Thrashers, and the Jets organization encouraged him to keep the number. The Jets traded Kane to the Buffalo Sabres in February 2015.[72]. Andrew Copp has worn the number 9 since 2015.

Number 25, retired by the original Jets in honour of Thomas Steen, was attributed to Paul Stastny, a close friend of Steen's son, Alex. Stastny has chosen the number partly because of Steen. Zach Redmond wore the number during his time with the team.

Bryan Little switched from number 10, which he wore in Atlanta, to number 18 out of respect for Dale Hawerchuk, who had worn number 10 with the original Jets.

Number 11 has not been issued since the death of Rick Rypien prior to the 2011-12 season. The Jets still wear stickers bearing the number on their helmets to this day.

Number 37 was not issued by the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise between 2003 and 2016 following the death of player Dan Snyder in 2003.[73] Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has worn the number since 2016, with the blessing of the Snyder family.[74]

Winnipeg Jets Hall of Fame

In July 15, 2016, the Jets announced the creation of the Winnipeg Jets Hall of Fame, to honour the impact and accomplishments of the team's hockey legends and celebrate the rich history of professional hockey in the city.[76] The inaugural inductees were the "HOT Line" consisting of Anders Hedberg, Bobby Hull and Ulf Nilsson, and they were inducted on October 19, 2016.[77]Dale Hawerchuk was honoured on November 14, 2017.
[78]

Regional Jets games were previously carried by TSN Jets, a part-time multiplex channel of TSN exclusive to the Jets' market. The channel was a premium add-on priced at $9.95 CDN per month during the NHL season, but was carried as a free preview for the beginning of its inaugural season. Despite the fee, representatives from both MTS and Shaw Cable stated that "thousands" of their customers had subscribed to the Jets channel.[81] In August 2014, TSN announced that it would split its singular national feed into 4 regional channels on August 25, 2014;[82] on August 18, 2014, TSN officially confirmed the Jets subscription channel had been discontinued, and that the broadcasts would move to TSN3.[80]

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